The Devil’s Apocrypha: There are two sides to every story

Genres

Reader's Thoughts

Nancy Oakes

WARNING: If you are easily offended by anything which throws less than a positive light on Heaven or the Church, do not under any circumstances pick up this book. You'll really hate this one and label it as blasphemy.Luckily, I don't have any trouble with this type of fiction, and I don't believe that this was meant to be anything but fiction. Looking over the Internet, however, I was surprised that there were people who totally believed in what was said between the covers. Ah well, to each his own, I guess. I enjoyed it because it was a different approach on the origins of faith, religion and the Church, but I liked it mostly because it says something about questioning what we as humans are taught to believe.plot summary:The book begins with its author finding an old manuscript written in five different languages. It was hidden in an old building on the last remaining property belonging to the author's family in Italy. He took it home to the US, and eventually translated it. He explains how the manuscript came into being, and the rest of the book, outside of the epilogue, is the translation.First off, the manuscript reveals that God and the archangels have come from a different universe which is dying thanks to the natural law of entropy. To save themselves, they must find another place, so by manipulating their energies, they arrive in the void just before our universe has been created. Once the task of creation is complete, they realize that there is none of their original universe's energy to sustain them, so they seek another solution. Think flip-flop of everything you've ever learned in Sunday school, and you pretty much have the story.You'll either like it or you'll hate it, and you'll probably decide as much by Chapter One. If you get past that, you're in for a great read.

Sergio

The Devil's Apocrypha is a well written book, however I found that I was not thrilled by it. The author John De Vito did a fine job of simulating the speech and text of the bible, and the narrative was well done, but even with the combination of sci-fi and historical fiction, the ending fell flat for me. I'm still not sure how I feel about the whole thing, nor am I sure if I would recommend it to anyone. At best I would say that I am ambivalent about the whole book.

Judas Iscariot

An interesting take on Christianity, focusing in on the beginnings of Satan and God. If taken as another tale for Christian mythology, then one might find it quite interesting. I especially enjoyed the reasoning of Satan, but I felt that the beginning and middle were far more interesting than the end.

Palindrome Mordnilap

It is very seldom that I am unable to finish a book out of sheer tedium. Even if a book promises little after the first few chapters and continues to show no evidence of improving some further chapters later, I am inclined to persevere. I know that writing a book is no easy task, and once committed, I feel I owe the writer the common courtesy of finishing what they spent months, if not years, crafting.I say this, because John A. De Vito's "The Devil's Apocrypha" is one of those rare exceptions: I simply could not be bothered to finish it. This is not because I am religious (I'm not) and therefore found his writing inflammatory - far from it. The fact is that De Vito has managed to take an interesting enough subject matter (Judeo-Christian theology from Lucifer's point of view) and make it thoroughly dull. Not only that, but he has chosen to deliver it in turgid, melodramatic King James' Bible prose, which reads horribly.If you want to read something from the devil's perspective which is genuinely decent, and doesn't pretend to be some lost manuscript painstakingly translated by the author as De Vito makes out, try Glen Duncan's "I, Lucifer". Just don't go anywhere near this drivel.

Paul Fisette

Points for self publishing. Sadly, it does show. This book is in need of a good editor and a proofreader. The story drifts, it lacks focus, and oftentimes I was left wondering whether I was reading a story or a manuscript on someones personal religious beliefs. Clearly De Vito wrote this book with a particular theology in mind, but at some point he needed to choose whether this was going to be a fictional read or a theological treatise, trying to combine both makes each aspect fall flat.

April

This book was hard to find, but it was definately worth it.

Angie

This book was self-published, and quickly became an Amazon.com international bestseller. Further proof that writing a great story is more important than who you know.This is very familiar story that's given longer roots and turned on it's head. It asks the familiar question "What if everything we think we know is false?". It's classic role reversal, but on a grander scale.What if Satan were the true savior, and God the villain?Where this story goes terribly right is that it doesn't just drop you into the plot and tell you what's what. It tells you the why and how. Where did God come from, and why did he create us? How could he get away with the greatest trick ever played?I loved all the twists on familiar biblical events and people (Lazarus being my favorite). Another aspect I loved is that it's written in the style of the Christian bible, which really gives it an air of authenticity.My only problem with this book is that, at times, it could be a little full of itself.And, yes, this is a work of fiction. I think ;)

Zac

I've always been interested in different perspectives to stories (e.g., what was the bad guy doing while the good guys were two steps behind, etc.). I liked "Wicked" by Gregory Maguire for that reason. The book is described as the documentation of a manuscript dictated to the author's great-grand uncle by Satan himself... Lucifer's explanation of the Bible myth. Nevermind that, the story described presents some interesting, and often, more sensible explanations to events and actions accounted for in the Bible.

Ellie

Not bad for a self-published book, but the typos and bad grammar started getting to me after a while.

stan

Awesome story telling the Bible from another perspective, one of the best fiction stories I have ever read.

Tracey

A well-written book--I have the utmost admiration for writers who can pack a punch in a relatively short, but very tight narrative. It's almost a "Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead" take on traditional Christian fairy tales (save the alternate point of view is a major character--Satan). No matter your beliefs, you have to appreciate the innovative and refreshing twist that DeVito takes. Bonus points that he's self-published.

Brian Laliberte

Though a work of fiction this was an interesting take on the greatest story ever told. It was also an inspiration for Spycraft.

S.M. Johnson

Well. I am somewhat fascinated. The beginning is slow. The style is a bit similar to when Anne Rice gets into writing about history - which means better paced than your dry old history book, but... still, not the fastest read.But at loc 1253 starts the Devil's commandments, and they are perfectly wonderful. I've always considered myself an atheist, but perhaps I have been wrong about that.Couple of my favorite examples from the Philosophies:"The path of life must be thine own, let not others choose for thee. If ye wish a chance at greatness, follow thine own path. If it should lead to misery, so be it. At least it is a misery of thine own choosing. And remember, ye may always try again."If thou findest an inequity, ye must correct it. If thou art witness to an injustice, ye must not stand idle. If ye come upon pain, then give relief. For if the lot of Man is to improve, the seer must be the doer."There are more... and so many of them dictate the way I already live... "Thou art stronger than ye can ever know, search for the strength that [d]wells within. It is there. It is waiting. And somewhere out there, someone needs you more than you can ever imagine."...Heed not the beliefs, laws and actions of others unless they suit thee. And be prepared to die for this."It's written in a very King James biblical style - and some reviewers have complaints about this, but I guess I figure if so many read the actual boring bible, then why not this, an alternative look? I like the way it speaks to the deep centers of my brain, and reminds me to question... cui bono? Who benefits? Sometimes I forget this and find myself blindly following the masses, sleepwalking as it were.I was surprised to find myself, in the text."...And blessed be those who find succor within themselves, for they shall be the insight of the Child, taking strength from the power within and not without. Blessed also be those who fear not God, for they shall be the blood of the Child, and they shall give no sustenance to the minions in the heavens."Felt a gathering of tears. Had to reflect a bit.As the narrator says, "...this was not a demonic text...[it's] a book of hope, as a better way to live my life. [And a] warning... we should not follow others without knowing why we do so. We should understand what we believe and why...so there you have it. Now you now. The question is, what will you do?"If you're not a fan or organized religion, or if you've always felt is if your basic nature sets you apart from society somehow, if you're not all that great at thinking what They tell you to think... give the Devil's Apocrypha a read. You might find yourself at home.

Crystal

Very creative and well written. It is written from another perspective of well known bible stories, so it can be a bit dull at times. But overall it was a good story by a guy who really did his homework on history and biblical stories. It's definitely not for everyone, but to those not easily offended it is a quick book worthy of a read.

Jesse Winslow

Concept: Biblical stories told from the perspective of the Fallen ones. Delivery: If it didn't have the stupid beginning/premise (a secret manuscript discovered in his grandpa's house) or the half King James-half modern writing style I'd enjoyed this book much more.Consensus: Two things I really liked about this book. #1 the whole concept of creation, what God is, what the angels and demons are, and how the Genesis stories played out made more sense than the actual Bible stories. #2 The chapter Book of Philosophies has some great twists on ancient wisdom like the 10 commandments and such.